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Terrell Owens learned a valuable lesson at a young age from the most influential person in his life.
”I’ve always listened and learned a lot from my grandmother and how she lived her life and how she wanted me to live my life Blidi Wreh-Wilson Jersey ,” Owens told The Associated Press about Alice Black, who died of Alzheimer’s disease in 2012. ”No matter what people say about you good, bad or indifferent, you just have to believe in yourself. And when you have belief in the man above, knowing you’re not perfect, the people who walk this Earth aren’t perfect either, and (if) you start to pass judgment and start to believe things about people who you don’t know personally, then that’s really a reflection of yourself.”
Growing up in a poor family in Alabama, Owens had a difficult childhood and he was often lonely. He was raised by his grandmother and his single mother, who spent much of her time working double shifts to support her children.
”Early in my career when I was an adolescent and teenager, I had self-esteem issues,” Owens said. ”I had to get out of that and understand that you have to believe in yourself in order to progress in order to do anything in your life. I’m very proud of how my grandmother raised me.”
Plenty of people have formed strong opinions about Owens, sometimes based on rumors and innuendo. T.O. certainly brought much of the criticism on himself with some of his outlandish behavior, but he believes he was also misunderstood at times. It was easier for critics to pile on than try to understand what made Owens tick.
That’s why Owens believes it took Pro Football Hall of Fame voters three tries to finally get him into the Canton shrine, although he’s not actually going to Ohio. Miffed that he was passed over twice, Owens is skipping the induction ceremony and instead giving his acceptance speech at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.
Owens said he visited the hall after his selection and decided he’d rather celebrate the big day at his alma mater.
”I feel the Hall of Fame committee needs to find a better formula and format in which guys get nominated and inducted, because all the hard work we’re doing as players to better our lives, our careers Ito Smith Jersey , our fate is in guys’ hands that have never played before,” Owens said, perhaps ignoring that Hall of Famers Dan Fouts and James Lofton are among the voters. ”People not giving me my recognition because a few people have said they didn’t like me. The narrative has been created and portrayed that I was divisive in the locker room and I wasn’t a good person or a bad teammate, but there have been people who have stood on the table for me and said I was a good teammate, a great player. But that’s the narrative they didn’t go with.”
The 44-year-old Owens had a mostly sensational 15-year career playing for San Francisco, Philadelphia, Dallas, Buffalo and Cincinnati. He is second to Jerry Rice in receiving yards and third in touchdown catches behind Rice and Randy Moss, who was chosen in his first year of eligibility.
No. 81 was a five-time All-Pro, a six-time Pro Bowl pick and one of the most entertaining players of his generation. His touchdown celebrations are legendary and no one worked harder to stay in excellent shape. Some think Owens could still play in the NFL; he has toyed with an attempted comeback in the Canadian Football League. He had 72 catches for 983 yards and nine TDs in his final season, in 2010, and finished with 1,078 receptions, 15,934 yards receiving and 153 TDs.
Owens was part of eight playoff teams but only reached the Super Bowl once after joining the Eagles in 2004. He gave a heroic performance in Philadelphia’s 24-21 loss to New England, catching nine passes for 122 yards after defying doctor’s orders and returning to play on his surgically repaired ankle 6 1/2 weeks after an operation.
”What I did, it was bigger than the Super Bowl for me,” Owens said. ”I understood the ultimate goal was to win the game and that was heavily on my mind Ryan Ramczyk Jersey , and I think with my performance, you can tell that was what was on my mind. But coming out of that tunnel for the first time, the media was waiting for me to run around on the field and go through my normal routine like I do before every game just to get a glimpse, see if I was limping, things of that nature on that ankle. Coming out of that tunnel, I wanted people to know my faith in God was the No. 1 reason I was able to do what I did.”
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With many NFL teams using a running back by committee approach, the "bell cow" back who carries the ball 20 times per game has become a hot commodity in fantasy football.
According to consensus draft rankings in point-per-reception (PPR) scoring formats, 10 of the first 15 players taken in typical drafts are running backs. If you want to field a competitive lineup this season, focus on RBs early.
Todd Gurley, Le'Veon Bell, Ezekiel Elliott and David Johnson are usually the first running backs selected in typical drafts.
Gurley flourished in Rams coach Sean McVay's revamped offense last season, leading all RBs with 13 rushing TDs, and he posted 64 receptions. He's the major cog in a top offense.
Bell has been a top 3 fantasy RB three of the past four seasons, but he's expected to miss his second straight training camp due to a contract dispute with the Steelers. Missing camp last season may have contributed to his slow start. He'll likely have another productive season, but buyer beware; Bell's played the most snaps of any NFL RB since the 2013 season.
Elliott led all RBs in 2017 with 98.3 rushing yards per game and will be the centerpiece of a depleted Cowboys offense. He'll also likely play a bigger role in the Cowboys pass offense this season.
Johnson missed most of the 2017 season due to a wrist injury, but he'll be the focal point of the Arizona offense. He rushed for 1,239 yards, scored 20 total TDs and registered 80 receptions in 2016. He'll run behind a fullback this season to minimize injury risk. Expect him to approach 2016 rushing and pass-catching stats.
Alvin Kamara caught 81 passes last season Jaquiski Tartt Jersey , but the Saints may need him to play more snaps than he's accustomed to while Mark Ingram serves a four game drug suspension. He may not match last season's combined 13 TDs, however he'll play a big part in the Saints passing game.
Saquon Barkley is expected to have a big impact in his rookie season, both in the Giants run game and in their passing offense. He was going to have a big role anyway, but Barkley's pass protection abilities will ensure he'll be on the field for the majority of the Giants' offensive snaps.
Kareem Hunt led NFL RBs with 1,327 rushing yards and added 53 receptions last season. He'll be the Chiefs' primary back in 2018 and may see a slight uptick in receiving targets with inexperienced QB Patrick Mahomes potentially using him as a safety valve in pressure situations.
Melvin Gordon's 3.8 career yards per carry (YPC) may not impress, however he had the third-most red zone carries among RBs last season and has scored 24 TDs in his last 29 games. TDs are hard to predict, but the Chargers consistently provide Gordon with a high volume of scoring opportunities. Gordon caught 58 balls out of the backfield in 2017 and his reception totals have increased in each of the past three seasons.
The Jaguars run-first offense will provide Leonard Fournette plenty of opportunities. He rushed for 1,040 yards and scored 10 total TDs in his 2017 rookie campaign, but wore down as the season progressed. He's had a history of foot related injuries dating back to his college days, and may not have prolific ball-catching skills, but if Fournette's health holds up, he should post another 1,000-yard rushing season.
Dalvin Cook is recovering from a torn ACL, but should be ready for Week 1. Although Latavius Murray will have a role in the Vikings backfield, Cook will be their primary back. Barring setbacks, pencil him in for 1,000-plus rushing yards and about 40 catches.
Although he'll still have fantasy value in standard (non-PPR) leagues, Christian McCaffrey's 80 receptions from 2017 make him extra valuable in PPR. The Panthers have suggested he could get 25 to 30 touches per game. That sounds optimistic considering that C.J. Anderson is now in the mix Breshad Perriman Jersey , but if he approaches that workload, McCaffrey can possibly outplay his expectations of being a top 12 fantasy RB.
Falcons RB Devonta Freeman landed in the NFL's concussion protocol twice last season. He also sprained both his MCL and PCL. When healthy he is one of the top RBs in all scoring formats.
Jerick McKinnon never had more than 159 carries in a season, but he'll be the featured back in the 49ers offense. His outstanding pass-catching abilities make him valuable in PPR leagues, however his lack of experience as a bell cow back and smallish frame makes you wonder if he can withstand the rigors of a 16 game NFL season.
Bengals RB Joe Mixon has immense talent, however inconsistency, a bad offensive line and uneven usage contributed to his underwhelming rookie season. As the Bengals' primary back, if his offensive line improves its level of play he could enjoy a breakout season.
Jordan Howard has an outstanding career 4.6 YPC, however he's had problems catching the ball. The Bears insist he'll be their featured back, however Tarik Cohen's abilities as a pass catcher could cut into Howard's snaps.
LeSean McCoy's offseason troubles and the anemic Bills offense make him risky. Jay Ajayi may break some runs this season but he's an injury risk in a crowded Eagles backfield. Avoid the Seahawks backfield until there is more clarity regarding Rashaad Penny's and Chris Carson's playing time. Sony Michel is expected to miss the rest of the preseason due to a knee injury that could also affect his availability to start the regular season.
Royce Freeman is a very talented RB who may end up being Denver's featured back. Keep an eye on De'Angelo Henderson as well. Raiders RB Marshawn Lynch is a mid-level RB2 who is being drafted as an RB3.
ROTOEXPERTS TOP 15 RBS, PPR LEAGUES
David Johnson, Arizona Cardinals
Le'Veon Bell, Pittsburgh Steelers
Todd Gurley, Los Angeles Rams
Alvin Kamara, New Orleans Saints
Melvin Gordon, Los Angeles Chargers
Saquon Barkley, New York Giants
Ezekiel Elliott, Dal Shai
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OAKLAND, Calif. — Two teams that began heading in opposite directions at just about the time they saw each other last month hook up again when the San Diego Padres and Oakland Athletics open a two-game interleague series Tuesday night.
The Padres were within arm’s length of .500 at 34-40, having won nine of 15, when the A’s ventured into San Diego and used a ninth-inning, two-out Jeff Driskel Jersey , two-strike, game-tying home run from Stephen Piscotty off relief ace Brad Hand to trigger a two-game sweep, winning 4-2 and 12-4.
The Padres now head north well out of contention in the National League West, having lost 11 of 14.
The A’s, meanwhile, have won 12 of 15 to surge well above .500 at 46-39 and into contention in the American League wild-card race.
Oakland has made much of its recent run without standout third baseman Matt Chapman, who has taken time off to allow pain in his right hand to subside.
Two cortisone shots later, Chapman had a pain-free hitting session Sunday and was sent to Class A for an injury-rehab game Monday.
It’s possible he could be reinstated from the disabled list during this series.
“He hit a few off the back wall in center field Rashaad Penny Jersey , so that tells me enough,” A’s manager Bob Melvin observed Sunday. “Getting him back in the lineup will be a nice little kick for us.”
The A’s need no such boost in their pitching. They have allowed two or fewer runs in four of their last five games.
Right-hander Chris Bassitt (1-3, 2.82 ERA) will look to extend that impressive run while at the same time taste his first career success in interleague play.
The 29-year-old began the A’s recent pitching showcase with six innings of two-hit, scoreless ball in a 3-0 win at Detroit last Wednesday.
He has never faced the Padres in his career, and has lost both interleague starts despite a 2.45 ERA.
One intriguing potential matchup in the series is A’s closer Blake Treinen against Padres slugger Eric Hosmer, a pairing that carried a bit of history into a game-ending showdown in the A’s earlier 4-2 win in San Diego.
Then a member of the Kansas City Royals, Hosmer bombed a two-run, go-ahead homer off Treinen in the eighth inning of their first career head-to-head last August.
Treinen then extracted a measure of revenge in the June 19 rematch in San Diego Chad Kelly Jersey , closing out the 10-inning game by striking out Hosmer as he represented the potential tying run.
Bassitt will be opposed by left-hander Clayton Richard (7-7, 4.29), who had a four-game winning streak stopped in a 5-2 loss at Texas last Wednesday.
He retains a good interleague record (9-5, 3.50) despite not having beaten an American League opponent since 2015.
You have to go back three years before that to find his last appearance against the A’s in Oakland, but it was a memorable one. He shut out a playoff-bound A’s team for 7 2/3 innings in 2012, allowing five hits in a 2-1 win.
He has faced the A’s three times in his career, twice as a starter, and gone 1-1 with a 3.21 ERA.
One A’s hitter that Richard will have to deal with is the aforementioned Piscotty Markus Wheaton Jersey Eagles , who played last season for the St. Louis Cardinals.
Piscotty has dominated the head-to-heads, going 3-for-4 with a home run and a flyout to deep center field in the only non-hit of the matchup.
A’s catcher Jonathan Lucroy, another former National Leaguer, also has a successful history against Richard, going 7-for-18 (.389) with two doubles and a homer.
Authentic Womens B.J. Hill JerseyOur friend and future full-time colleague Peter King has compiled his last James Daniels Jersey , and arguably his best, column for SI.com’s MMQB. We highly recommend stopping everything you’re doing and taking 30 minutes or so to soak it in.
This edition of King’s weekly cornucopia has extra corn and even more ucopia, with plenty of anecdotes from decades of devotion to the greatest sport on earth. Read it. Savor it. It’s a masterwork and a football history course all in one, something from which his passion and appreciation readily flows.
Here’s one highlight (but, again, read it all):聽“Thank you, Michael Irvin. ‘We鈥檙e playing in a Sports Illustrated game!’ he shouted when I showed up in Texas during the week of a big game in 1991, when the Cowboys started to get good. That Friday afternoon http://www.redskinsauthorizedshops.com/authentic-da_ron-payne-jersey , Irvin said he鈥檇 sit for an interview with me, but not at Valley Ranch. We got in his car, and he took me to a strip club, where we talked for an hour. Great interview. Interesting scenery.”
And another: “Thank you, Jimmy Johnson. For a lot of things. He鈥檚 as transparent a coach as I鈥檝e covered in my 29 SI years. The first time we talked extensively, at a seafood place in San Diego in training camp in 1990, Johnson spoke about the pain of his 1-15 rookie season, and he was so candid about how much it sucked that at the end of the evening Authentic Chad Thomas Jersey , perhaps emboldened by four or six Heinekens, he looked me square in the eye and said, ‘Peter, if you f— me with this story, I鈥檒l squash you like a squirrel in the road.'”
And one more, from 2007: “On my Continental puddle-jumper from Newark to Providence last week to do a Patriots story for HBO, the man in front of me passed gas uncontrollably, constantly James Daniels Bears Jersey , and without any shame throughout the flight. After about 15 minutes of this, the man across the aisle looked at the Wall Street Journal-reading farter and said: ‘Do you think you might be able to control that?’
“‘Control what?’ Mr. Fart said.鈥?#8217;The farting,’ Mr. Across-the-Aisle-But-Speaking-for-Everyone said.聽鈥?#8217;Jesus,’ Mr. Fart said, sounding apologetic. 鈥淚’m sorry.鈥?鈥˙ut he couldn’t stop, and we suffered with the acrid fumes for most of the 47-minute flight.”
The sweet fumes of King’s column at SI.com will linger for a while, but then he’ll arrive at NBC in July, where he’ll pick up where he’s leaving off. We can’t wait for that to happen DJ Moore Jersey , and we suspect you feel the same way.
With their season kicking off in Philadelphia on Thursday night, the Falcons released their first injury report of the year on Monday.
Three members of the team did not take part in practice. Guard Ben Garland is dealing a calf injury, long snapper Josh Harris is nursing a hip issue and a shoulder injury kept cornerback Blidi Wreh-Wilson off the field.
The Falcons added long snapper Jeff Overbaugh to their practice squad, so they have someone on hand in the event Harris isn’t able to go on Thursday night.
Cornerback Isaiah Oliver was limited with an ankle injury. Safety Ricardo Allen (thigh), wide receiver Marvin Hall (ankle), linebacker Deion Jones (hamstring) and linebacker Foyesade Oluokun (ankle) were all listed as full participants in Monday’s practice.
Authentic Womens Bradley Chubb JerseyColeman, 29, played the past three seasons with the Panthers. He had 11 interceptions in that span, tied for fourth-best in the NFL. With Coleman leading the way, the Panthers have had 51 interceptions since 2015, second in the NFL.
Coleman was scheduled to count $5.15 million against the 2018 salary cap, according to reports; releasing him clears $2.65 million in cap space.
Releasing Johnson, meanwhile Charles Haley Jersey , clears another $3.25 million in cap space. Johnson, 31, signed a two-year extension last year worth $9.5 million.
Johnson spent 11 seasons with the Panthers after Carolina selected him in the third round of the 2007 draft. He played 143 games for Carolina, the most by any defensive lineman. He ranks second in franchise history with 67 sacks and 20 forced fumbles.
Johnson was suspended four games last season for violating the league’s policy on performance-enhancers, and was inactive for the Panthers’ playoff game against New Orleans.
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Paul Stastny has made plenty of tangible contributions for the Winnipeg Jets since they acquired him just before the NHL trade deadline.
The latest example played out for all to see.
The center scored twice at Nashville in Game 7 of the second round in a 5-1 win Thursday night, lifting Winnipeg into the Western Conference finals for the first time.
Behind the scenes, Stastny is also making an impact with intangibles.
”Some of his best performances are things none of us get to see happen inside the dressing room and on the plane and sitting beside the players,” Jets general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff said Friday. ”We knew we were getting a quality player – obviously, you can see that on the ice. A quality person Dan Hampton Jersey , we knew that from our due diligence in the past. But what he can bring inside the room … you don’t really appreciate until you have.”
The St. Louis Blues valued Stastny, too, but were willing to part ways with him in February because Winnipeg gave up a first-round pick this year, a fourth-round pick in 2020 and a prospect.
”Stastny is a great, veteran player,” Vegas coach Gerard Gallant said. ”He plays a 200-foot game. He plays on the power play and penalty kill. He was a big pickup for those guys and he’s fitting in well on their team. That’s no surprise to anyone around the game.”
With more than 200 goals and 600 assists in Stastny’s career, the Jets invested in this season to make a push in the playoffs and it paid off.
Winnipeg will host the Golden Knights on Saturday night in Game 1 of the Western Conference finals .
”It’s one step closer to where we want to be,” Stastny said. ”It’s kind of nice that we play really quick, so in one sense we get to enjoy this then forget about it and then focus on Vegas right away.”
If a Game 7 proves to be necessary Jack Doyle Jersey , Vegas will have to keep a close on Stastny because he has a knack for scoring decisive goals.
Just like his father, Hockey Hall of Famer Peter Stastny, who defected from Czechoslovakia with his brother, Anton, in 1980 to play in the NHL.
The 32-year-old Stastny has scored four goals and has eight points in four Game 7s. Just three active players have more points in decisive games: Justin Williams, Patrice Bergeron and Henrik Zetterberg.
When he was seven months old, his father scored in overtime to push the Quebec Nordiques past the rival Montreal Canadiens in division finals of the 1985 playoffs.
”Not that I know my dad’s goals, but I know that one,” Stastny said. ”Rebound off a draw. He still talks about winning that draw.”
No one drew up a conference finals matchup with Vegas and Winnipeg.
And Kony Ealy Jersey , Stastny is determined to enjoy the ride and help his younger teammates do the same.
”As you get later in your career, you’ve just got to enjoy these moments,” he said. ”You’re going to have some guys that get nervous out there and that’s fine. It’s our job, older guys, veteran guys, to go out there and try to be loose and try to make everyone comfortable.”
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Coach Jon Gruden said Johnson adds a presence to the defense that was needed.
"He brings us status at a critical position A.J. Bouye Jersey ," Gruden said. "He's got a great history in this league, been productive under a lot of different coaches, different schemes. He understands the AFC West and certainly understands this rivalry. I'm really excited to add him to our team."
The 35-year-old Johnson spent his first 13 NFL seasons with the rival Kansas City Chiefs and will likely fill the role at middle linebacker that NaVorro Bowman played the second half of last season.
Johnson has been one of the better linebackers in the league during his career but was allowed to leave Kansas City earlier this offseason as the team tried to get younger.
Johnson is a four-time Pro Bowler and the career tackles leader for the Chiefs.
He appeared in 182 games with 169 starts since being drafted in the first round in 2005. He piled up 1,262 tackles to easily shatter the franchise record, had 27陆 sacks and picked off 14 passes, returning four of them for touchdowns.
He had a career-best 179 tackles in 2011, when he was voted the Chiefs' team MVP.
Johnson piled up his impressive stats despite missing part of two seasons with ruptured Achilles tendons. He returned from the first one as good as ever Adam Shaheen Jersey , earning his most recent Pro Bowl trip in 2015, but the second seemed to finally take a step out of his legs this past season.
He had 48 tackles in 15 games last season but slowly lost playing time to younger teammates in the middle of the Kansas City defense.
The Raiders need an anchor in the middle of their defense. Bowman fared well in that role after being signed last October following his release by San Francisco. There was interest in bringing him back for a second season but the two sides couldn't agree on a price.
Oakland didn't address that need at linebacker in the draft until the sixth round last week with the pick of Washington linebacker Azeem Victor.
The Raiders also waived linebacker Cory James with a failed physical designation and cut defensive lineman Armonty Bryant with a non-football illness.
Mike Singletary hopes to coach again in the NFL someday. He has plenty on his plate right now, though.Singletary was at minicamp with the Detroit Lions on Thursday. He said he doesn’t know Lions coach Matt Patricia that well, but he wanted to be there to check out the video screens Detroit is using at practice.
Singletary was hired earlier this year to coach high school football at Trinity Christian Academy in Texas. He also has been hired as coach of the Memphis franchise in the Alliance of American Football, which will start playing in February.
Singletary has coached for three NFL teams, including a stint as San Francisco’s head coach. The 49ers went 18-22 under him from 2008-10. Singletary was asked if he thought he could get another opportunity like that.
”I hope so. But for me, I’m going to work where I’m planning Terrell Davis Jersey ,” he said. ”Very excited to be where I am, and if that happens, great. If not, then I’m going to keep working where I’m at.”
Singletary says he learned some lessons from his time coaching in the NFL.
”It’s a long list of things. I think more so than anything else is how much I needed to do – how much work I needed to do as a coach and being able to coach my coaches and have them help my players. … Just getting more information, just getting more grounding as a head coach.”
A star linebacker with the Chicago Bears, Singletary was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1998. He clearly still enjoys being involved in the sport.
”It’s such a great game, such a great game when you have the right people involved T.J. Green Jersey , when you have the right coaches and you’ve got good kids,” Singletary said. ”I think all kids are good kids. … You’ve got to know which ones you’ve got to manage, and the ones that help the others. But it’s just such a great game, and so many life lessons, so very important game to me, in America.”
As for the video screens at practice, Patricia explained the purpose this week.
”You may have missed something on the field. You kind of look at it and see what happens. You see what went wrong on the play and can get that instant kind of correction to the player right away Zach Cunningham Jersey ,” Patricia said. ”A lot of the times the players are trying to figure it out for themselves. So, they’ll see something and, `Hey, what happened right there?’ And they can look at it and reference it from that standpoint.”
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”It was a tough play. Obviously incidental Terrell Owens Jersey ,” James said after the Celtics beat Cleveland 107-94 to take a 2-0 lead in the Eastern Conference finals despite his 42 points and a triple-double. ”His shoulder hit me square in the jaw. It didn’t affect my game after that.”
James was driving to the basket when Tatum went for the steal with both hands and collided with the Cleveland star, driving his shoulder into James’ jaw. James spent about 10 seconds on one knee under the basket, then walked off to the Cleveland locker room.
He returned a few minutes later and finished out the half with what the Cavaliers said was a strained neck.
”I felt like I needed to go back to the locker room, which I did Markus Wheaton Jersey , and kind of recalibrate,” James said.
Asked if he was checked for a concussion, he said: ”I was checked for multiple things, and I passed them all. That’s why I was able to come back and finish the half.”
After scoring just 15 points in Boston’s Game 1 blowout Julien Davenport Jersey , James had 21 in the first quarter on Tuesday night. He finished with 12 assists and 10 rebounds, but also had six turnovers.
The Celtics won the first two games at home, and the series now heads to Cleveland for Game 3 on Saturday.
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The Houston Texans have signed four unrestricted free agents led by cornerback Aaron Colvin and re-signed seven of their own free agents, including veteran cornerback Johnathan Joseph.
Houston also signed center Zach Fulton Tyrann Mathieu Jersey , tackle Seantrel Henderson and guard Senio Kelemete and re-signed defensive end Angelo Blackson, receiver Bruce Ellington, outside linebacker Ufomba Kamalu, punter Shane Lechler Aaron Donald Jersey , safety Corey Moore and inside linebacker Brian Peters.
Colvin played for the Jaguars the past four seasons where he had 164 tackles, 14 passes defended and 12 tackles for losses. A fourth-round pick in 2014, Colvin appeared in every game for the Jaguars last season and had his first career interception in Jacksonville's playoff game against the Bills.
Fulton has started 46 games over the past four seasons with the Kansas City Chiefs and Henderson started at right tackle in 26 games combined for the Buffalo Bills over the past four seasons. Kelemete started eight regular-season games for New Orleans last season and appeared in both of the team's playoff games.
Joseph is a 12-year veteran who has spent the past seven seasons in Houston. He has started 103 games for the Texans and has 14 interceptions and 329 tackles.
Chandler Hutchison JerseyIt took Wall one additional outing to be absolutely certain he’ d be OK after coming back from surgery on his left knee, pointing to his 29-point, 12-assist effort against Boston five days later.
”I had a big game,” he said Monday, looking back at that victory from a couple of weeks ago. ”Kind of just started to see shots fall that I was falling short on the couple of games I had before that.”
As Wall prepares to lead the No. 8 seed Wizards into Game 5 against the No. 1 seed Raptors on Wednesday night in Toronto, it is as if he never was away for more than two months. As if he never needed that operation in the first place. As if he got a chance to ramp up for the postseason for more than merely four games.
And all of that outside chatter about whether Washington might just be better off without him, based on the team going 8-2 at the start of his absence in January and February, sure seems silly right about now. Especially after Wall carried Washington to a 106-98 victory in Game 4 on Sunday night by scoring eight of the host’s last 14 points and adding an assist – plus tight defense on DeMar DeRozan – after Bradley Beal fouled out with about five minutes left.
Did it while playing all 24 minutes in the second half, too. Plus, Wall revealed Monday that he twisted his right ankle down the stretch Corey Grant Jersey , although he declared himself fine.
”It’s always pulling teeth to try to get him off the court,” Brooks said. ”I like that. As a coach, you want that.”
Now Washington will need to grab a victory on the road at least once to claim a series in which the home team has won every game so far.
”You put John Wall on this team for 82 games,” Raptors coach Dwane Casey said, ”and I guarantee they wouldn’t be eighth.”
Instead, Wall appeared in only 41 games this season, missing all four that Washington played against Toronto. But he sure is looking good when the games count the most.
He is averaging 26.8 points, 13 assists and 4.8 rebounds in the series.
And here’ s an obscure, yet telling, stat offered up by the Wizards: Wall joined Magic Johnson as the only players with at least 27 points Pharoh Cooper Jersey , 14 assists and six rebounds in two consecutive playoff games.
”It was just a matter of time before he got back to himself,” Wizards forward Markieff Morris said. ”He just needed to get some games under his belt. Basically, just get his feet under him, get his wind back, and he would get back to how he was playing. Because he’s a competitor.”
That aspect of Wall’ s persona came out when he was trading barbs with Canadian rapper Drake during the series’ first two games in Toronto, when the Raptors were taking a 2-0 lead.
”I told him to be here for Game 3. He told me he was going to be here. Didn’t show up. He told me we were getting swept and he had the broom for us,” Wall said. ”I wanted him to know they weren’t going to sweep us.”
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Associated Press writer Ian Harrison in Toronto contributed to this report.
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The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have added another major piece to their defensive
line, trading for New York Giants two-time Pro Bowler and Super Bowl 46 champion
Jason Pierre Paul.ESPN's Adam Schefter first broke the news:Another blockbuster
trade: Giants trading DE Jason Pierre-Paul and a 2018 fourth-round pick to
Buccaneers for a 2018 third-round pick and a fourth-round pick, source tells
ESPN.— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 22, 2018Pierre-Paul Trey
Burton Jerseyl , 29, has been one of the NFL's most dominant
pass-rushers since breaking into the NFL eight years ago. He's registered 58.5
sacks, 42 passes defended and 11 forced fumbles.His best season was 2011, when
JPP had 16.5 sacks and helped the Giants win Super Bowl 46 over the New England
Patriots, 24-20. Pierre-Paul hasn't been the same dominant force since 2014,
however.That's because he suffered a gruesome hand injury from a fireworks
accident in the summer of 2015. Pierre-Paul's right index finger had to be
amputated, and injuries have slowed down some of his production.But Pierre-Paul
will get a fresh start with a talented young Buccaneers team that is filled with
talented pass-rushers. This includes recently-signed defensive end Vinny Curry,
who was released by the Philadelphia Eagles after winning Super Bowl 52.Tampa
Bay also features another trio in steady pass-rushers that include Lavonte
David, Gerald McCoy and Noah Spence. Should Curry and JPP reach their full skill
levels in Tampa, this team could make some major noise in a tough NFC South
Division.For the Giants Geoff
Swaim Jersey , some roster overhauls were necessary after winning
just three games in 2017. They own the second-overall pick in this year's draft,
and many expect them to draft one of the top quarterback prospects to eventually
succeed Eli Manning.But as Schefter noted, trading Pierre-Paul could mean the
Giants are thinking otherwise with the second pick:Now that the Giants have
traded Jason Pierre-Paul to the Buccaneers, maybe they consider Bradley Chubb at
No. 2.— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 22, 2018The Giants certainly have to
rebuild a defense that went from elite in 2016 (second-best in points allowd per
game), to terrible in 2017. With Pierre-Paul gone, New York will most definitely
draft a pass-rusher in one of the early rounds.As for the Buccaneers, it's safe
to assume they'll own one of the NFL's best pass-rushing units next season -
should all the players fit the system properly. Mohamed
Bamba Jersey
OAKLAND Jacob McQuaide Jersey , Calif. — Trevor Bauer will pursue a piece of Cleveland Indians history Friday night when he opens a three-game series against the Oakland Athletics.
Having recorded at least eight strikeouts in all five of his starts this month, Bauer needs 16 to match Hall of Famer Bob Feller’s franchise record of 70 for the month of June, set in 1946.
Bauer’s career high for strikeouts in a game is 14, set last May against the A’s in just seven innings.
More realistically, the California native needs 10 strikeouts to equal the second-best June total in Indians history, set by Sam McDowell in 1965.
Bauer (7-5, 2.44), who ranks third in the American League in strikeouts Darian Stewart Jersey , has recorded 10 or more six times in his last eight starts, going 5-2 in the process.
The 27-year-old right-hander has never won in Oakland, going 0-2 with a 5.14 ERA in three starts. He’s 1-2 with a 4.44 ERA in five career starts against the A’s overall.
One A’s hitter Bauer has dominated in the past is hot-hitting Jed Lowrie, who has gone 1-for-9 in his career against him with five strikeouts in their all-time head-to-heads.
Lowrie had 15 hits in nine starts on Oakland’s just-completed road trip, raising his average to .294.
Bauer will be facing an A’s team that’s playing its best ball of the season. Oakland is coming off a four-game sweep at Detroit that capped a 7-2 trip.
The A’s have won nine of 11 overall.
The A’s have been even better against the Indians in recent years, winning seven of the last eight meetings in Oakland, including all three on Cleveland’s visit last July.
Right-hander Paul Blackburn (1-2, 8.83) will oppose Bauer.
The 24-year-old has alternated good and bad outings in his four appearances since returning from a strained right forearm that delayed the start of his season almost two full months.
He’s coming off one of the ugly ones Xavier Woods Jersey , having allowed six runs and eight hits in five innings in a 10-3 loss to the Chicago White Sox on Sunday, but A’s pitching coach Scott Emerson noted he was impressed with the first four innings, during Blackburn pitched scoreless, one-hit ball.
“It was tough for him, one rehab stint and then thrown into the fire,” Emerson said of the abrupt start to Blackburn’s season. “We’re past that now, and I told him now is when we start putting our stuff together and getting the outs we’re supposed to get. We can’t use (the injury) as a crutch anymore. It’s go time; he understands that.”
Blackburn has made one career start against the Indians, compiling a 0-0 record and 4.50 ERA.
The Indians head west after having lost two of three in St. Louis. They had won their previous seven games.
The Indians actually beat the A’s into Oakland Chidobe Awuzie Jersey , having had Thursday off while the A’s were finishing up their trip in Detroit.
They are coming off a 5-1 win over the Cardinals in which rookie Shane Bieber not only recorded his third straight win but also his first major league hit, a double off fellow rookie Jack Flaherty.
The A’s won’t see Bieber in the series … except as a possible pinch hitter.
The NFL and the players' union will host a symposium on mental health on May 14.Entitled "Beyond The Physical: A Symposium on Mental Health in Sports," the forum will feature a series of panels with current and former NFL players as well as mental health organizations, caregivers, medical providers and media personalities. The aim is to raise awareness of mental health and promote a culture in which people, including athletes, are encouraged to seek help and support to achieve overall wellness.
Confirmed panelists include NFL wide receiver and co-founder of Project 375 Brandon Marshall; former NFL cornerback Asher Allen; former Pro Bowl running back Warrick Dunn; Atlanta Falcons senior director of player affairs Kevin Winston; and representatives from Active Minds, Mental Health America (MHA) of Georgia Braden Smith Jersey , the American Psychological Association, and Campaign to Change Direction.
"May is Mental Health Awareness Month and the NFL is pleased to partner with the NFLPA and Cigna to increase awareness and decrease the stigma around mental health ..." said Dwight Hollier, the NFL's vice president of wellness and clinical services. "This effort is especially important in light of the messages young athletes receive about toughness and the need to be strong all the time. Through our discussions with caregivers, athletes, professionals and others, we will shine a light on mental health in sports and discuss ways to support athletes and others on the journey toward total wellness."
George King JerseyThe New York Giants interviewed Minnesota Vikings offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur on Saturday for their vacant head coaching job.
Shurmur met with co-owner John Mara Kevin Johnson Jersey , general manager Dave Gettleman, and assistant general manager Kevin Abrams in Bloomington, Minnesota.
The Vikings (13-3) have a first-round bye in the playoffs.
The 52-year-old Shurmur, who had a two-year stint as the Cleveland Browns’ head coach, was the fourth person the Giants have spoken in their search to find a replacement for Ben McAdoo, who was fired on Dec. 4 after less than two years on the job.
Giants interim Steve Spagnuolo was interviewed Wednesday and New England Patriots defensive coordinator Matt Patricia and offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels were interviewed Friday in Foxborough, Massachusetts.
Shurmur has been a part of teams that have qualified for the playoffs nine times and won seven division titles. He was Philadelphia’s quarterbacks coach when the Eagles played in the Super Bowl against New England in the 2004 season.
Shurmur is finishing his second year with the Vikings. He began last season as the tight ends coach and for the final nine games was also the offensive coordinator, the title he retained this season.
The Vikings finished 10th in the NFL in scoring (23.9 points), 11th in total yardage (356.9) Braden Smith Jersey , and seventh in rushing yardage (122.3) this season. He also helped quarterback Case Keenum have a career year.
Shurmur posted a 9-23 record in his two seasons (11-12) with the Browns, going there after a two-year stint as the offensive coordinator with the Rams. He spent three seasons as the Eagles offensive coordinator after being fired.
Shurmur’s NFL coaching career began with a 10-year run (1999-2008) in Philadelphia. He coached in college at Stanford and Michigan State.
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Giannis Antetokounmpo was criticized after Game 5 of Milwaukee’s Eastern Conference series against Boston for not doing more, particularly on the offensive end.
The harshest critic: Antetokounmpo, himself.
He took only 10 field-goal attempts, his third-lowest total of the entire season. Antetokounmpo still had a brilliant stat line, finishing only one assist shy of a triple-double, but the Bucks lost 92-87 and now go back to Milwaukee trailing the first-round matchup 3-2.
Game 6 of the Celtics-Bucks series is the lone matchup on the Thursday night NBA schedule.
”Game 6, I’ve got to come out and be more aggressive,” Antetokounmpo said. ”It’s on me. I had open shots Tyquan Lewis Jersey , but they weren’t my shots so I didn’t feel comfortable taking them. … I’ve got to be more aggressive, make more plays because definitely, my teammates need me.”
It’s not like he was choosing to not be involved.
The Celtics got Marcus Smart back for Game 5, and Boston is much better defensively when he’s on the floor. Open looks seem to happen far more infrequently when Smart is out there, and the Bucks must solve that riddle or else their season is about to end.
Smart wasn’t the only defensive hero for Boston in Game 5. The Celtics put Semi Ojeleye on Antetokounmpko, and it worked as well as Boston could have hoped.
”Giannis is a heck of a player,” Celtics coach Brad Stevens said. ”You’re not going to be perfect against him. You’re not going to hold him down by any means. He makes plays for other people, he’s very unselfish … but we just felt like we needed a little bit more ball pressure overall, and so that was the decision to go smaller.”
If Antetokounmpko doesn’t come up bigger Thursday Aaron Lynch Jersey , it’ll be Boston going to the second round.
Here’s some of what to know going into Game 6:
CELTICS AT BUCKS
Boston leads 3-2. Game 6, 8 p.m. EDT, TNT
NEED TO KNOW: Since 2002, there have been 29 NBA teams with at least one postseason series win to their credit. The lone exception: The Bucks. It’s been 17 years since the Bucks advanced to the second round, and the Celtics are on the cusp of adding another year to Milwaukee’s wait. So far in the series, Milwaukee has outscored Boston 520-519 – which would indicate that it’s been a super-close matchup. That’s not the reality. There have been wild ebbs and flows, with one team leading by 16 points at some point in each of the last four games.
KEEP AN EYE ON: Free throws. Boston is 99 for 130 in the series from the line, while Milwaukee is 68 for 100. The Bucks have been called for 30 more fouls in the series, 124-94 – which works out to six more per game.
PRESSURE IS ON: Clearly Jadeveon Clowney Jersey , the Bucks. They’re facing elimination, of course, so there’s the pressure. Antetokounmpko was on the Milwaukee team that won two elimination games against Chicago in 2015 (before the Bucks eventually lost that series in six games). And he also remembers the sting of last season, when the Bucks went home for Game 6 trailing Toronto 3-2 and wound up letting a pair of late leads slip in what became a season-ending loss.
INJURY UPDATE: Getting Smart back was a rare bit of good news for Boston in this injury-marred season, one where the Celtics have been without Gordon Hayward since opening night and ultimately lost Kyrie Irving for the playoffs. Smart hadn’t played in about six weeks after tearing a ligament in his right thumb, but was a clear difference-maker for the Celtics in Game 5.
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OAKLAND RAIDERS (6-10)
OPEN CAMP: July 26 Russell Shepard Jersey , Napa, California
LAST YEAR: Raiders plummeted from 12 wins in 2016 to six last year as QB Derek Carr and offense regressed, defense struggled, and coach Jack Del Rio was fired. Oakland's offensive output dropped by more than seven points per game, takeaways fell from 30 to 14, and Raiders got almost no production from past three draft classes in becoming one of league's biggest disappointments. That led to move to bring coach Jon Gruden back for second stint with Raiders after spending past nine seasons in broadcast booth.
IMPORTANT ADDITIONS: Gruden, WR Jordy Nelson, WR Martavis Bryant, RB Doug Martin, LB Derrick Johnson, CB Rashaan Melvin, S Marcus Gilchrist, LB Emmanuel Lamur, LB Tahir Whitehead, WR Ryan Switzer Cameron Artis-Payne Jersey , OL Kolton Miller, DT Maurice Hurst, DE Arden Key.
IMPORTANT LOSSES: Del Rio, WR Michael Crabtree, RT Marshall Newhouse, LB NaVorro Bowman, CB TJ Carrie, CB Sean Smith, CB David Amerson, P Marquette King.
CAMP NEEDS: Biggest priority is getting 2016 Defensive Player of Year Khalil Mack into camp after he held out entire offseason while seeking long-term contract. Mack is entering final year of rookie deal and Gruden and new DC Paul Guenther are eager to get most important defensive piece on practice field. Other main issues are learning Gruden's system and figuring out offensive tackle situation with LT Donald Penn coming back from foot injury and rookies Miller and Brandon Parker battling Breno Giacomini for time.
EXPECTATIONS: Owner Mark Davis has wanted to bring back Gruden ever since taking over team seven years ago. He's hoping move pays off in team's final two seasons in Oakland before move to Las Vegas in 2020. Gruden is being counted on to bring out best from Carr, who went from MVP candidate in 2016 to mediocre last season as he dealt with injuries. His protection got worse and his receivers were inconsistent. Even if Gruden does manage to spark offense, defense will need to take big step forward for Raiders to get back into playoff contention.
Kevin Durant and Draymond Green ignited a brilliant second quarter with their defense and all-out hustle plays, then Golden State got rolling in transition and Oracle Arena started rocking the way it does this time of year.The defending champions are dominating again, and now Stephen Curry is ready to rejoin the mix and make them that much better.
Durant had 26 points and 13 rebounds, Green dazzled all over the floor with his fourth career postseason triple-double Taylor Gabriel Jersey , and the Golden State Warriors thoroughly overmatched the New Orleans Pelicans for a 123-101 win in Game 1 of their Western Conference semifinals Saturday night.
Green finished with 16 points, 15 rebounds, 11 assists, three steals and two blocks and just with his hustle and energy helped the defending champions pull away with a superb, decisive second quarter.
”If we can push the tempo and try to get stuff in transition that’s big for us, so that was key and obviously that starts with stops,” Green said.
Now, they likely get Curry back for Game 2 on Tuesday night and all that he brings – even if in a limited role initially.
Anthony Davis had 21points and 10 rebounds, scoring 10 in the first quarter before having a tougher time generating shots the rest of the way to finish 9 for 20. Jrue Holiday was held to 4-for-14 shooting and 11 points.
Golden State again played without two-time MVP Curry, who has been sidelined since March 23 with a sprained left knee. Coach Steve Kerr called it ”very likely” Curry would play Game 2 in the best-of-seven series.
”We’ve adjusted to life without him. Hopefully he comes back Tuesday but we still have to have the same mindset if he isn’t,” Klay Thompson said. ”Even if he does come back, it’s natural human emotion to be kind of relaxed because we have so much production coming back in our lineup but that’s going to be a test for us just to put that away in our minds and just focus on the task at hand and not depend on Steph to save the day. He’s done it plenty of times but we have a very deep team, playmakers all around.”
Thompson, who led Golden State with 27 points, hit back-to-back 3-pointers late in the first half that made it 76-48. But New Orleans ended the second on a 7-0 run and Darius Miller’s 73-foot heave at the halftime buzzer counted John Johnson Jersey , getting the Pelicans within 76-55 at the break. They hit another buzzer-beater to end the third but by then it was way too late.
Rajon Rondo had nine points and dished out 11 assists for New Orleans.
”Well, that didn’t go as planned ,” Pelicans coach Alvin Gentry said.
Once Golden State got going in transition, the crowd became deafening and the Pelicans couldn’t keep pace – with tempo being something the Warriors know is key this series.
”It was probably the loudest I’ve heard Oracle all year,” Kerr said.
Davis, who averaged 33 points, 12 rebounds and 2.8 blocks in a first-round sweep of Portland, made 5 of 7 shots in the opening period. The weeklong layoff hurt, Gentry said.
Green has been brilliant on the boards as Golden State keeps taking its defense up a level, and the Warriors improved to 26-0 when he has a triple-double, 4-0 in the postseason. He had games of 19 and 18 rebounds in the final two matchups of a five-game series with San Antonio in the first round.
”The bottom line is he almost had a triple-double by halftime. That’s not a good situation for us,” Gentry said.
Nick Young started at forward for the Warriors while 2015 NBA Finals MVP Andre Iguodala remained in the starting lineup in place of Curry as Golden State won a franchise-record 13th straight postseason home game.
The Warriors swept the Pelicans in the only other playoff meeting between the franchises in the 2015 first round as Golden State went on to capture its first championship in 40 years.
HIGH-FLYING W’S
Golden State had its highest scoring postseason first half as well as second quarter. The 76 points topped 73 against Phoenix on May 4, 1994, while 41 in the second bested 40 scored against Utah on May 11, 2007.
Golden State shot 13 for 20 in the second Marcus Martin Jersey , making four 3s and 11 of 14 free throws.
CURRY OUT
As usual, Curry insisted he ”feels great and he’s ready to go,” said Kerr, who is encouraged his superstar point guard feels so good.
”Just made the decision based on giving him the extra few days and the fact he only scrimmaged yesterday,” Kerr said. ”You’ve been out five weeks and we’re playing in the playoffs, I don’t think one scrimmage is enough, even though he feels great, he wants to play and pleaded his case. ”
Curry returned to full practice with contact Thursday and only scrimmaged 5 on 5 for the first time Friday, and Kerr prefers that Curry get additional on-court time at full speed Sunday.
TIP-INS
Pelicans: The Pelicans’ 126-120 win April 7 in Oakland snapped a 10-game losing streak to the Warriors. ”We approach the game as if everybody’s washed their hands of everything that has happened,” Gentry said. … Gentry received a technical at the 8:43 mark of the first quarter. … The Pelicans shot 7 for 23 in the second. … New Orleans surrendered 110 or more points in the last 11 regular-season games against Golden State.
Warriors: Green topped Tom Gola’s three playoff triple-doubles for most in
franchise history. … Young, who played 21 minutes, made a 3 on his first shot
and another late in the game on his second attempt. … Golden State has won 25 of
the last 27 meetings overall vs. the Pelicans. … Jay George
King Jersey